“Starlight Nova, time to wake up, darling. Its going to be a busy day on the farm.”
“Nggrugh, I’m sick. I’m tired. I’m dying!”
“Hey, enough melodramatics. This’ our duty until we pay off our debt, so hop to it, little filly.”
“I’m not a filly,” Starlight grumbled as she rolled out of bed. She rubbed a spot her head, where her horn was before it was shaved to a nub, and dragged her hoof down her face. “Fine, mama, I’m up. I’ll be over to breakfast in a few. Ya know why,” she said as she turned and gripped the thin sheet in her teeth and began to make her bed.
“Yeah, don’t forget to wipe this time. We can’t afford to take you to the nurse-”
“MOM?!" Nova shouted in shock. "Seriously, that was two years ago!” Nova shouted aghast.
“Just reminding you, dear,” her mother said with a smug grin, “now hurry and come along before your food gets cold. You know it’s all we get until sunset.”
The blushing young mare glared daggers at her mother through her purple bangs until the mare left her small room.
Nova sighed and turned back to her bed, a mattress laid on the floor before her as she sighed. She finished pulling the sheet over the bed and smoothing it over as best she could as she looked at the compact size of her room. Just large enough for a bed and dresser that contained a pair of winter boots, a heavy coat, and brush on top.
With concentration she tried to grasp the brush in her magic only to give up and walk a pace ahead and grasp it in the frog of her hoof. The brush was worn, covered in bite marks from countless previous owners, and many of the bristles were missing leaving just enough to get most her hair done before breakfast.
She drug it through the short cut mane she had and along her thick bangs that before she replaced it with another sigh. She looked at what she knew of as a mirror, which was little more than a broken piece of glass that was angled just right to let her see a translucent image of herself. With a last flick of her bangs she quickly left her room, door cracked slightly as it would jam if closed all the way during summer, and took care of her morning routine.
…
“Hey mama,” Nova said softly as she approached the mare from behind as she stirred the hot pot on the stove.
“Hey, filly. Ya ready for another day in the fields?”
“Yeah, I guess. I just wish we could eat some of what was out there.”
“Yeah, then we’d be starved for a week. I’ve seen it done and it ain’t pretty. Now, filly, eat up. You want your coat bright and purple to match your eyes today. I heard the boss’ going to be coming by and he likes to see the workers-”
“You mean slaves.”
“-lookin’ fresh. Lest the guards come whippin’.”
“Ugh, you tell me every week! I know that already.”
The mare smiled and trotted over. “I know I’m not your mother, but you’re under my care. As such, it’s my job to make sure you’re taken care of in every way. I’m here for life, and I’m," she paused, "helpin’ ta pay your debt off so ya can be free and find your kin… so hush and eat your slop,” she said turning and grabbing a ladle.
“Ugh, I wish I had real food,” she sighed and sat on the floor. The table wobbled before her and her bowl rattled.
With a thick plop a scoop of… something was in her bowl.
“What the?”
“It’s oats, eggs, hay, some seeds I found by the creek, milk, a few berries, some crickets, and a bit of chopped fruit pits; for texture.”
Nova shuttered and leaned in to nibble the gruel.
“Good job, filly. Gotta eat two more bowls if ya wanna make it to lunch.”
“Ugh, this junk.”
“Yeah,” the mare grinned, “but only a bite worth.”
“Ugh,” Nova grunted as she crunched some cherry pits between her molars.
“Good job, filly, good job.”
Hours passed as Nova stayed close to the mare while they plowed one section of the fields in the morning, picked various vegetables during the early afternoon, and cleaned up their mess, and the clutter of others, as it was their duty that week.
Returning to the small shack they called home both laid on the grass just outside the front and let the day’s exhaustion take it’s toll.
Nova dozed to sleep while the mare simply rested her eyes and let her head clear and her muscles relax.
After maybe half an hour the mare stood with a heavy breath and a warm smile. She looked over Nova and trotted quickly to the filly’s side, scooping her up and onto her back.
Nova slept soundly as she was carried through the shack and out the back door.
Several shacks came together to form a small communal area, including a bath.
“Nova, darling. Time to wash up,” the mare said softly, nuzzling the filly. With a high pitched trilling sound Nova stirred and slipped to the ground with a light thump.
“Ugh, I fell asleep? I didn’t wanna, I’m sorry mommy.”
Several nearby ponies smiled at Nova.
“Now, don’t think I’m upset, little one. Time to get washed up and cleaned.”
“Ugh,” Nova grunted as she stood and looked at the communal pond. It’s murky brown color and off putting scent was enough to make her wish she’d just live in a mud pit, but it was still cleaner than a day of working on the fields and taking that to bed.
Hanging her head, Nova walked ahead and into the shallow pond, scraping her hooves against gravel that was deposited for that reason.
“That’s better, now c’mon, I’ve got a gallon of water rations that we’re gonna use to clean you up.”
“Okay,” she squeaked in reply. She quickly splashed out of the murky water and into the grass beside the mare. “I like you, Mom, even though you’re not my mom for real.”
“I like you too, filly. I like you too. Now, hurry up and we'll eat supper and you can play with your friends."
"Then bedtime? Will you tuck me in?"
"Every night."